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Any recommendations of California dealers who aren't charging above retail? I'd like to drive home in a Prius by the end of 2004, if possible, so a 3-4 month wait is fine, and I'm flexible on the location (I'll pick it up anywhere in California) and the package.

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Asif at Toyota Town in Stockton told me it would be 8 to 12 weeks and I was driving mine home in 6 weeks. That was just a few weeks ago. They could be behind a bit but Asif is great to work with. He even picked me up at the Sacramento Airport and gave me a ride back to the dealer.

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All I know is, I put my name in about 2 weeks ago there, and was told that it would be about 3 months. When I called last week, after my motorcycle was stolen, they told me I was looking at 2.5 - 3.5 months.

Kurt; Figure if you got it about 3 weeks ago; that would make 9 weeks since you ordered, right? Alot can change in 2 months.

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I dealt locally at Hobbie Toyota in Oroville. Ordered in May, told 6 month wait. Then in July was told that we should be the next one manifested and that it would be about 3 - 4 weeks. It arrived on August 18th and we picked it up on the 21st. Talk to Jim Buteau 800-533-4626 Tell him Dennis Swaney referred you.

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I had a great, no-nonsense experience with the fleet sales team at City Toyota in Daly City (just south of San Francisco). They'll handle your purchase if you get referred through AAA or Costco. Ask for Elias or Gary. Because it was fleet and the 20+ years of Toyota sales experience of Elias, it made my purchase very pain-free (aside from writing the big check!).

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Avoid Oakland Toyota, they're only interested in a mark up.
I ended up w/ Marcus at Stockton Toyota and was very happy (3 mos I think). I have since been offered cars from Gilroy, Salinas, and a couple of others. I had a fantastic conversation w/ the Petaluma rep but their list was huge.
pauline

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I second Pauline's suggestion to avoid Downtown Oakland Toyota. I was guaranteed MSRP in writing for about a month before they switched out on me and told me that people were passing me on the waiting list due to "a policy change" stating that they were selling for $3500 over MSRP. Their customer response time was boorishly slow when I tried to contact them with regards to my position, and they've continued to spam me with offers to get a Prius immediately at a special deal of the aforementioned $3500 markup.

My dealings with Stockton have been positive so far, although I still haven't gotten the exact car I'm looking for.

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Got mine at Capital Toyota in San Jose. They were the only place I could find with one you can test drive. I think they are big enough that they get quite a few each month. You could give them a call and see what the wait is like right now.

Mark Kamil is the internet sales guy responsible for Prius sales. His number is 408-979-4004.

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Great contact with Kevin at Norwalk Toyota. He didn't cash my deposit check for 6 months! No markup in price either. Cerritos Toyota, on the other hand, wanted to cash my check immediately even if the wait was over 6 months. Little things count in my book!

Since I've had my Prius, I've also noticed that parts are cheaper at Norwalk than Cerritos. Now, I remember that the Cerritos dealership was in the news last year getting caught for recommending unnecessary repairs. Gotta think about followup service and not just the initial purchase too. :?

I have a 2008 Prius with 155,000 miles on it. I imagine that no private person would buy it out of fear that a battery replacement ($$$) might happen during their ownership.
Since the Blue Book value is around the same as a battery replacement, should I just keep the Prius until it dies (it runs...

In the last few weeks, I get the dreaded Red Triangle with exclamation point on the dashboard with just the word "Problem" on the display. It only happens when I make a left turn and barely lasts one second (Just long enough to read the word "Problem"). It only happens (so far) on a mountain...

My daughters 2006 Prius was running fine charging fine, I went out to move it this morning and it had nothing. It unlocked to let me in then it wouldn't start, nothing much in the dash and it wouldn't unlock the trunk. Help